Diagnostic Targeted Assistance (DTA): A Process to Assess Qualitative and Quantitative Involvement of Parents in the Clark College Home-School Partnership Model (HSPM).

Follins, Johnnie R.

The Diagnostic Targeted Assistance (DTA) process was developed to document the impact of the home intervention aspect of the Home School Partnership Model (HSPM), one of the models for Project Follow Through. HSPM encourages parental involvement in the learning process, in order to foster positive attitudes in parents, educators, and students towards the roles they play in the educative process. HSPM capitalizes on the positive aspects in the home environment as stimuli to learning by primary school pupils. DTA involves the classroom teacher, parents, and paraprofessional coordinators in planning and implementing a program of educational assistance. Criterion referenced tests are used to diagnose reading and mathematics levels for children in kindergarten through grade 3. DTA consists of six phases: (1) surveying the home-family-child environment; (2) diagnosing basic skills learning difficulties; (3) analyzing and classifying learning difficulties; (4) planning diagnostic targeted assistance; (5) implementing the assistance; and (6) evaluating pupil progress and modifying the diagnosis. DTA is in an early stage, and requires further refinement and evaluation. (MH)